While chatting mattress protectors isn’t the most alluring of tasks, here at GLAMOUR HQ, we’re *all* about sleep right now – ‘cos it’s so damn important for your physical and mental health. While the 478 sleep technique and bedtime masturbation are both proven to help you reach the Land of Nod more quickly, we’re firm believers that a good night’s kip starts with an elevated bedding set-up. Look past your chic and photogenic bed frame and you’ll need silk pillowcases to protect your skin and hair, a top-rated pillow to support your neck and a duvet of excellent quality to prevent you from getting too hot. Oh, and one of the best mattresses to rid those WFH-induced aches and pains. That’s probably the most important purchase of them all.
Once you’ve made your mattress purchase, it’s likely you won’t want to make one again for as long as possible. Those things are expensive. So keeping it in tip-top condition is of upmost importance. Enter: mattress protectors that keep your Simba/Brook & Wild/Eve Sleep bestie in its optimum state.
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A good mattress protector will keep your mattress free from stains and spillages – whether that be makeup, period leaks or the cuppa you tipped over mid-bed sheet switchover. Unlike a mattress topper – which is expensive and might not actually be necessary if your mattress is already great – a protector doesn’t add any extra support or cushioning. It simply acts as a protective layer between your bed sheet and mattress.
Finding a good mattress protector is just as important of a task as hunting down the most stylish linen bedding or comfiest body pillow you can. Read: very. So we’re here to make your journey-to-purchase a little easier. Here’s everything you need to know.
What to consider when purchasing a mattress protector
First thing’s first: there are a few different types of mattress protector on the market. They are…
- Skirted mattress protectors. These are the most common kind of mattress protector and they fit like a traditional fitted sheet would. They feature a skirt that fits under the four corners of your mattress and covers the top and all four sides.
- Encased mattress protectors. These are a lot less common and encase the entire mattress, fastening with a zip. They not only protect the top and sides but the bottom of your mattress, too. This is great if you want to protect against bed bugs or dust mites, but they are trickier to fit and more expensive.
- Mattress protectors with elastic straps. These are the most affordable and offer the least amount of protection. The protector only covers the top of the mattress, leaving the sides bare; it’s fastened with elastic straps to each corner.
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Besides the type of mattress protector, there are a few other features to consider.
- The fabric. You’ll most commonly have the choice of a cotton, synthetic or wool mattress protector. Cotton is breathable and can be purchased as hypoallergenic, while synthetic is the most affordable (yet least durable) and wool is biodegrade-able, warm in winter and actually quite supportive.
- Whether it’s waterproof. Waterproof mattress protectors mean they spillages or accidents simply run off the top of the mattress, keeping it protected for longer. The main downsides? Waterproof mattress protectors tend to be warmer, and they often make a “scrunching” sound when you move around at night.
- Whether it’s quilted. If you do want a bit of extra support and don’t fancy buying a mattress topper on top of your mattress protector, opting for a quilted protector could be a good choice.
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After more bedding content? Head this way for low platform bed frames, over here for silk bedding sets and in this direction for anti-allergy pillows. We’ve also found weighted blankets to help you nod off, sleep masks and pillow spray to help you relax and headboards to crown the whole shebang.
For more from Glamour UK Commerce Writer Sophie Cockett, follow her on Instagram @sophiecockettx.
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